“I don’t do stress” – Malou Prytz is carefree and rejects responsibility in “Bananas”

From being one of the youngest finalists in the history of Melodifestivalen to her third year in the competition, Malou Prytz is back again. The teenage icon is now a seasoned 18 years old, and ready to open Mello’s 62nd edition. She faces stiff competition in the first semifinal, including Netflix star Omar Rudberg, six-time competitor Shirley Clamp and former winner Robin Bengtsson, but we all know she’s got a lot of fire and charm on her side.

Let’s go “Bananas”!

Scroll down for “Bananas” lyrics

Melodifestivalen 2022: Malou Prytz “Bananas”

Malou Prytz (full name Ellen Eivor Malou Traste Prytz) hails from the small locality of Ryd in southern Sweden. She’s a familiar face to Mello fans, being a surprise direkt til final on debut in 2019 with the peppy teen pop song “I Do Me”. However, she ultimately finished last in the final.

In her second attempt a year later, she placed third in the first semifinal with the ballad “Ballerina”. In andra chansen, she narrowly lost her duel to Paul Rey and “Talking in My Sleep”. Third time’s a charm for Malou, who is hoping to firmly imprint herself in the Mello family.

She has this to see of her song:

“The song is a little different from what I have released before, which will be both exciting and interesting. It’s like a lesson to myself and makes me let go a little more. Viewers can expect something different from my contribution that I think will stand out in the crowd. And no, it’s not just bananas on stage.“

What do the “Bananas” lyrics mean?

“Bananas” is a song about rejecting responsibility and embracing a carefree life. This is made very clear from the first lines “I should be growing up, but I’m lazy, too lazy“. In goes into further depth at the end of the verse, where she contrasts herself with someone trying her rein her rebellious behaviour in, “There’s so many things that I should do, no matter how I try to be like you“. This suggests she’s tried to be more responsible in the past, but has failed due to the stresses of life. She teases this person in the bridge, “Oh lord, be good tonight, cuz today I’m doing nothing right!“

In the chorus, the songs title is used as a metaphor for her recklessness, “I go bananas!” Not a reference to the delicious fruit! Instead, the phrase “going bananas” means to behave in a impulsive way. Malou follows this up later in the chorus, where she suggests her behaviour is a reaction to a stressful, fast-paced life, “I don’t do stress, but nevertheless…“. It’s of course a message that will resonate with young fans of Malou, who are increasingly resistant to career-focused lifestyles of their older counterparts.

Later in the song, Malou refers to other goals she wishes she could achieve but can’t, “I should be working out… I should be following rules…“, rounding out the message of the song nicely. She also harks back to Gwen Stefani, spelling out the song’s title “B A N A nas!” Malou was barely a toddler when Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” was released, so that’s a nice touch!

“Bananas” lyrics — Malou Prytz (Melodifestivalen 2022)

Songwriters: Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt and Alice Gernandt

Joy and Linnea are Mello stalwarts, writing many iconics songs including the 2015 winning song “Heroes”. Thörnfeldt is also a familiar name, writing “El Diablo” from Cyprus last year, as well as last year’s winning song “Voices” alongside Joy and Linnea Deb.

Alice Gernandt, also known as Ace Wilder, is a three-time finalist for Melodifestivalen. She finished runner-up in 2014 to Sanna Nielsen with “Busy Doin’ Nothin'”, third in 2016 with “Don’t Worry” and seventh in 2017 with “Wild Child”. Ace and Malou have a long history, having collaborated since her very first year in the contest.

English lyrics

I should be growing up
But I’m lazy (too lazy)
I should be falling in love and calling you baby (that’s crazy)

There’s so many things that I should do
No matter how I try to be like you

Oh lord
Be good tonight
Cuz today I’m doing nothing right

I go bananas
Bananas
I don’t do stress
But nevertheless
I go bananas

B A N A nas
Bananas!

I should be working out
But it’s heavy (and sweaty)
I should be following rules
But I break ‘em (who needs ‘em)

There’s so many things that I should do
But tonight I’m doing me not you

Oh lord
Be good tonight
Cuz today I’m doing nothing right

I go bananas
Bananas
I don’t do stress
But nevertheless
I go bananas

B A N A nas
Bananas!

Oh lord
Be good tonight
Cuz today I’m doing nothing right

Oh lord
Be good tonight
Cuz today I’m doing nothing right

What?

I go bananas
Bananas

So many things I should do
But tonight I’m doing me not you
Oh lord be good tonight
I’m bananas
I’m bananas

I go bananas
Bananas
I don’t do stress
But nevertheless
I go bananas

B A N A nas
Bananas!

B A N A nas
Bananas!

What do you think of “Bananas”? Do you think Malou Prytz is set for another direkt till final? Let us know below!